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If You Hang with Liars, You’ll Become One

This week President Trump’s lawyer said he paid a hooker $130,000 out of his own pocket (so she wouldn’t go public about her encounter with Mr. Trump). Right. I’m a lawyer. I can just imagine paying a hooker $130,000 out of the goodness of my heart for a client. Clearly, Mr. Trump’s lawyer is as big a liar as Mr. Trump himself is.

But that’s not surprising. One tends to become like the people you spend time with. My guess is, if you spend much time around Mr. Trump, and want his business, you’re pretty likely to become a liar just like he is. If you weren’t one to start with.

Be forewarned, Vera: choose your friends and clients carefully. And don’t delude yourself into thinking you’ll be better than they are. I’ve seen it time and time again. People have the uncanny ability to drag others down into the gutter with them. People think they’re above it — that they can resist. But in due time, they usually don’t. They succumb. They get dirty just like the pigs with whom they associate.

Speak the truth in all things. But if you’re serious about it, keep distance from those who habitually lie. It’s really quite simple.